le style et la matière

Lallemant: Rolling the ball

2012-01-30T15:56:00.003+01:00

photo Plaisir de France

Captivating Lallemant. There - I thought I’d get the decorator’s name in right away, because he’s new to me and though I don't know much about him, I’m suddenly very enthusiastic. Maybe it's because he's a little mysterious still.

And maybe I'm making a rash judgement basing my interest on very little. It all began with this one appealing salon that first drew me in with its ringed rug. How many times have I skimmed this picture imagining the promise of our universe calm, classically arranged and beautifully colored at my feet? Then came the scanty bits I discovered about Lallemant on the internet; a little knowledge is a dangerous thing?

This apartment is the only example I have seen of his interior work. The ceiling is not high but that’s not a problem here. I like the way the lighting for bookshelves is integrated into the neat overhanging coffer which continues with intelligent shelving on the sides; a coffer alone on the ceiling would have cut down the impression of height. The rug expands the space too. Everything is in its place, ship shape. The theme is astronomical: metal spheres are used as supports for the coffee table; the mirror frame is painted with planets and is perfectly aligned to the contours of the globes over the mantel; there's an armillary sphere next to the desk on the right. (Click to enlarge.)

photo Plaisir de France

This is the dining room that faces the above space and repeats the rounded shapes in the rug, table and chairs. A collection of antique ceramics occupies the end wall. With simplicity, very defined interests are indicated.

I have been wondering if this apartment on the avenue Montaigne belonged to an astonomer, an explorer, or very chic astrologer - maybe Yaguel Didier in a past life. What I have discovered of Robert Lallemant is that he is famous for ceramics (which explains the importance given to their display) but I find nothing elsewhere about his interior decoration work.

photo Drouot

lamp La belle aventure photo Artnet

In 1923, reports Ceramique 1900, "he buys a small workshop of "bleus de Sèvres" at 5 passage d'Orléans in the 13th district of Paris, which he later moved to Quai d'Auteuil. He starts then, with the help of

his wife, a very avant-gardiste production. For each of his models he makes a

drawing then a plaster on which he keeps working until he gets a perfect shape; then he makes a mould." His early works of 'mecanical faience' often have images of France, proverbs, popular songs, sport, history, geography, myth.... the style is charming and often resembles the work of illustrators Jean-Emile Laboureur or Charles Martin. He is one of the rare artists of this medium, along with Jean Luce, to have created ceramic works in the true spirit of modern creation of the 1920s.

See more examples here.

photo Christie's vase 1930

His geometric models show the same artistic preoccupations as in the top picture.

Christie’s biographical notice says,

A pupil of the ceramicist Raoul Lachenal during the early 1920s, Robert Lallemant worked mainly with faience, exhibiting his early independant work at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs and the Salon d'Automne. He swiftly received positive reviews, which in turn led to an exhibition at the Berheim Jeune gallery in 1929, alongside Djo-Bourgeois, Pierre Barbe and the Martel brothers, where he concentrated on works in ceramic.

A founding member of the UAM in 1929, Lallemant contributed furniture, combining wood, metal and glass, to the inaugural exhibition at the Salon de Marsan the following year. In 1933 Lallemant joined his father-in-law's public works company, and in so doing abandoned his successful artistic career.

photo galerie Patrick Seguin

We do see armillary inspiration in the period as demonstrated by this famous example by Jean Royère made in 1940. Lallemant stopped his design career in 1933. Maybe his table inspired Royère?

photo Christie's

photo Drouot

photo ebay

photo Christie's

Spheres and round shapes show up frequently.

photo source: livre-rare-book

During WW II, he was for a time in charge of the military service artistique and he also sailed regularly with the Marine Française where he documented life aboard ship with uncommon artistry.

photo by Lallemant at galerie Verdeau

Other photographs attest to his travels through Africa.

We don't know why he chose to give up an enormously successful career in ceramics, but it looks like the themes of the apartment above and the ceramics I have chosen to illustrate this post may have demonstrated his own interests and desire to explore other horizons.
Robert Lallemant lived from 1902 to 1954, and left traces of a short but well-filled life.

Givre léger: winter walk

2012-01-17T10:17:00.003+01:00

all photos: Le style et la matière

Aesthetically led

2012-01-12T15:14:00.009+01:00

photo Le style et la matière

Silly? I bought a footstool because of the slip of velvet on it was in harmony with my mood after seeing Beauté, Morale, et Volupté dans l'Angleterre d'Oscar Wilde at the Musée d'Orsay or as the exhibit originating at the V & A is known in English, The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900. The exhibit will soon head to San Francisco.

The Aesthetic Movement called for 'art for art's sake' and was a revolt against moralizing views and the industrial age where machines made it possible to turn out furnishings faster than it was possible to design them (well). The aim of the House Beautiful was to be personal; it's furnishings artistic -that is, it should break away from heavy Victorian eclecticism. But as with any historic movement, the impetus for change came from several directions. Without going into all the tenants of the movement and its sometimes fuzzy relation to the Pre-Raphaelites or to Arts and Crafts, the fact that Japan opened to western commerce in 1862 after a self-imposed trade freeze of 250 years strongly influenced the design sense of the day.

And my velvet footstool, printed with cranes and foliage, is part of the trend tinted with Asian refinement which swept through France as well as England at the time.

photo Le style et la matière

This vase was another pleasing trouvaille that same day and a continued proof of purchase under the Aesthetic spell.

photo Le style et la matière

I would love to be able to trace this.

photo Le style et la matière

Now I suppose I need to surround the fireplace with tiles and put shelving over the mantelpiece where I could display it

Walter Crane My Lady’s Chamber frontispiece of The House Beautiful by Clarence Cook

and maybe some blue and white china.

photo Oscar Wilde: Quest Machine

It is an odd thing, but everyone who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco. It must be a delightful city possess all the attractions of the next world.

O. Wilde

Admittedly, this style could tend more toward an artistic spirit than toward consistent quality of fabrication as did the of Arts and Crafts ideal. The poseur of design movements, achieving the 'look' was sometimes enough for the Aesthetic philosophy.

photo Le style et la matière

Moving along with the general idea of Aesthetic interiors of the end of the 19th century, though not a quality piece, I also spotted this idiosyncratic character (well, I see what it is, but robbed of its cushions there's a certain gauche charm) and for a mere 35 euros, I thought of putting it in the country house. For Whistler and Godwin the fully orchestrated interior concepts! Otherwise, a mingling of this and that - antiques, painted sideboards and Japanese decorations - is entirely acceptable! And I've already justified fudging in the paragraph above.

photo Le style et la matière

Not always, but most often, I am the one who leads our own personal aesthetic movements in the household, but this particular chair did not inspire Monsieur. Submission can be necessary for the

harmonious house beautiful.

He was probably right, but I still like something about that awkward armchair.

Homeward bound

2012-01-07T11:01:00.007+01:00

Kaladj

The dimming of the light makes the picture clearer

It's just an old photograph

There's nothing to hide

When the world was just beginning

I memorized a face so it's not forgotten

I hear the wind whistlin'

Come back anytime

And we'll mix our lives together

Heaven knows- what keeps mankind alive

Every hand- goes searching for its partner

In crime- under chairs and behind tables

Connecting- to places we have known

I'm looking for a

Home- where the wheels are turning

Home- why I keep returning

Home- where my world is breaking in two

Home- with the neighbors fighting

Home- always so exciting

Home- were my parents telling the truth?

Home- such a funny feeling

Home- no-one ever speaking

Home- with our bodies touching

Home- and the cam'ras watching

Home- will infect what ever you do

We're Home- comes to life from outa the blue

Tiny little boats on a beach at sunset

I took a drink from a jar

and into my head

Familiar smells and flavors

Vehicles are stuck on the plains of heaven

I see their wheels spinning round

and everywhere

I can hear those people saying

That the eye- is the measure of the man

You can fly- from the stuff that still surrounds you

We're home- and the band keeps marchin' on

Connecting- to every living soul

Compassion- for things I'll never know

Album: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

3 things combined

2012-01-03T11:57:00.003+01:00

The year is getting off to a nice start. I always like to find a calendar for the kitchen that will make me happy all year long. This one is called Les chats en France. Photographer, Rachel McKenna, originally from New Zealand also shares a love of
three things dear to me - France, interiors and cats.

in French

Her book of the same name is especially delightful - because 12 pictures may not be enough to satisfy...

in English

and it is always interesting to see the cover choices for the different editions.

The author's site .

C'est la bonne heure

2011-12-31T17:46:00.001+01:00

Carl Holsoe

Now is the best time when the lamp is lit -

All is so quiet and consoling tonight,

In such silence you could hear even feathers fall.

Now is the best time when, gently

Comes the beloved

Like a breeze, like smoke

So softly, so slowly.

She says nothing at first – and I listen to her;

And her soul that I hear clearly,

I surprise shining forth

So I kiss it on her eyes.

Now is the best time when the lamp is lit,

When confessions of loving each other the lasting day

Come forth from the bottom of our hearts,

Come from their transparent depths to light.

C'est la bonne heure où la lampe s'allume
Tout est si calme et consolant, ce soir,
Et le silence est tel, que l'on entendrait choir

Des plumes.

C'est la bonne heure où, doucement,

S'en vient la bien-aimée,

Comme la brise ou la fumée,

Tout doucement, tout lentement.

Elle ne dit rien d'abord - et je l'écoute ;

Et son âme, que j'entends toute,

Je la surprends luire et jaillir

Et je la baise sur ses yeux.

C'est la bonne heure où la lampe s'allume,

Où les aveux

De s'être aimés le jour durant,

Du fond du coeur profond mais transparent,

S'exhument.

Émile Verhaeren

Noël, Noël

2011-12-25T10:52:00.000+01:00

warm wishes for a wonderful day

More Animals at Christmas

2011-12-23T17:51:00.001+01:00

Reindeer

(Stag)

ox and donkey

To light the way

from Emery et cie

Ox and donkey

2011-12-22T23:44:00.000+01:00

Acoustix77

Entre le boeuf et l'âne gris
Dort, dort, dort le petit fils
Mille anges divins, mille séraphins
Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

Between the ox and the gray donkey
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son
A thousand divine angels, a thousand seraphim
Fly round this great God of love.

Dites, si c'était vrai

2011-12-21T23:50:00.008+01:00

This is the store front of a traiteur who sells many lovely delicacies in St Germain des près. The charm of the scene with ox and donkey is not without a lovely touch of wit provided by pretty little piggies who seem more interested in the food than the baby Jesus.

Poudroyer

2011-12-12T14:43:00.009+01:00

Peter Ilsted 1910

The winter sun. You may have seen this painting many times before like me, but now I know there is a definite expression for this effect so prized by children and so anoying for housekeepers.

" le soleil qui poudroie..."

It says so right there in Perrault's La Barbe Bleue.
The tale is light years away from this image,
but words are a heady drug.
Powdering Sun, you make common dust anything but ordinary.

Thanksgivings past

2011-11-22T09:23:00.000+01:00

When I was little there was a Charlie Brown special for every occasion and I was even allowed to watch them on school nights. I wonder if children still watch the little block head in the US.

Do you remember Happy Thanksgiving Charlie Brown? In it the great chef and organizer, Snoopy, prepares the dinner table for Peppermint Patti, Marci and Franklin who have invited themselves over for the day's feast. Before they partake in a less than traditional meal of popcorn, toast and jellybeans,

there's a great scene where the resourceful beagle must wrestle with a chair

when setting up a table for the feast in the garden.

The chair man lurks again.

It's time to get out our DVD.

Can you get to old for Snoopy and Charlie Brown?

Happy Thanksgiving, America!

Thin as a pin and a stocking cap

2011-11-15T12:37:00.000+01:00

All veterans

2011-11-11T20:17:00.002+01:00

all photos Le style et la matière

all photos Le style et la matière

église Notre-Dame, Semur-en-Auxois

Antennas to the cosmos

2011-11-10T16:53:00.007+01:00